SEED MATURATION INDICATORS IN DESMODIUM ELEGANS DC. IN NAINITAL DIVISION OF KUMAUN CENTRAL HIMALAYA

Abstract

Desmodium is a genus of large flowering plant family Leguminosae. It is widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions and used as forage plants, for biological control, and in traditional folk medicine. Desmodium elegans is a nitrogen fixing shrub generally found in Oak dominated forests approaching a maximum height from 1.8 to 2.5 m. We studied the vegetational parameters and seed maturation timing of D. elegans at two sites located in Nainital forest. Density of D. elegans ranged between 80 ind./25m2 and 60 ind./25m2 . Fruits (Pods) of D. elegans were collected from north (S1) and south (S2) aspects covering the altitudinal range from 2000 to 2100 m. The mean seed size across the collection dates varied between 6.1±1.0 mm2 and 18.9±0.2 mm2 across both the aspects. The change of pod color from light green to dark brown, the range of pod size from 1.6±0.2 cm to 2.6±0.2 cm, the range of pod moisture content between 32.5±1.4 % and 42.8±2.0 % and the seed moisture content between 40.1±1.5 % and 52.1±4.2 % coincided with maximum germination and appear to be indicators of seed maturation.